The Albuquerque Journal announced Steve Virgen, sports editor of a Los Angeles Times-owned community newspaper, will cover golf for the morning daily.

Virgen, 43, replaces long-time assistant sports editor Mark Smith who left the newspaper in December. Smith was the writer responsible for the Journal's page of golf coverage each Thursday during golf season. New Mexico Golf News broke the story of Smith's departure.

Virgen worked for 11 years at the Daily Pilot In Orange County, Calif. “I am very excited to join the Albuquerque Journal's talented sports staff,” Virgen said in a piece on the cover of the Journal's sports section on Thursday. Virgen studied and was a reporter at Fresno State University when Jerry Tarkanian coached backetball there.

Dan Vukelich, former editor of ABQ Free Press and Sun Country Golf magazine, is editor of NewMexicoGolfNews.com. He is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America. Reach him at [email protected]

About New Mexico

New Mexico Golf News is a locally owned and operated news site devoted to coverage of all things golf in New Mexico. It also carries features on golf travel for players who want an honest appraisal of potential golf destinations outside the Land of Enchantment.